Adapter and insulator construction for interior illumination



y 1945 s. c. MILLER 2,375,807

ADAPTER AND INSULATOR CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERIOR ILLUMINATION Filed Oct. 17, 1941 W um! INVENTOR.

Patented May 15, 1945 ADAPTER AND INSULATOR CONSTRUCTION FOR INTERIOR ILLUMINATION Samuel C. Miller, New York, N. Y.

Application October 17, 1941, Serial No. 415,348

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an insulator construction for interior illumination, and more particularly to an adapter for the same.

My invention has for its objective to make available some of the novel features of my insulator construction described and claimed in my Patent No. 2,046,960, granted November 7, 1936.

The construction of the aforementioned patent was primarily devised for securement to a frame by a collar form of attachment, especially for outdoor use. The general nature of the insulator housing of the character hereinbefore mentioned, while eflicient for outdoor use, has not been accepted for interior illumination because of the requirement of the cumbersome mounting or plates corresponding to the frame encountered in signs for exterior illumination.

It is the'object of my invention to provide simple and efficient insulators, peculiarly adapted for interior illumination, whereby insulator housings heretofore confined to outdoor illumination may be made available for interior illumination and, further, whereby insulator housings may be utilized for mounting flush with the surface of any wall or ceiling so as not to require the throat or collar form of attachment.

The attainment of the foregoing objects and other objects will become more apparent, and be more clearly emphasized, a this description proceeds, and for this purpose I make reference to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof, wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the adapter along the line 2-'2 of Figure 4;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional end view of the same;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a section taken on the line 6-5 of Figure 3';

Figure 7 is a section corresponding to that shown in Figure 2, with the insulator housing removed.

Making reference to the drawing, my invention illustrates in Figure 1 an illuminating assembly utilizin gaseous discharge illuminators, commonly referred to as neon tubes. In such contruction, tubin such as ID," has its opposit'e'ends provided With'electrodes II, to engage a contact 2 of some source of electric current supply. In-.

cross-sectional diameter has such relationship to I their depth that they have received acceptance as safe insulators.

The adaptation of these insulators has heretofore been confined to outdoor signs where mounting was effected by a collar attaching device engaging some fastening element, as the threading l4 adjacent the throat of the insulator. Such attaching means are not available where illuminating tubing is employed for interior work, or upon the surface of the wall or ceiling. These housings are all provided with terminal posts, to which posts the conductors of the circuit may be affixed. The exposed condition of these posts has heretofore been considered a hazard, precluding the use of these tube housings for interior illumination and requiring cumbersome panels for affixing the insulators in position.

I have devised an adapter and mounting means for these tube housings; the details and features whereof I will now describe.

Housings l3 or like constructions which I intend to mount for wall surface or interior illumination have at their end, a terminal post Hi, to the head 16' whereof is afiixed a helical spring contact I! for conducting the current to the terminal electrode H of the tubing Ill. The availability of the terminal post [5 in accordance with my prior invention and in constructions where posts are used in a similar relationship is used by me to adapt the insulator for mounting adjacent the base l8 instead of the customary throat, illustrative of attachment by means of collars with the threading l4 hereinabove mentioned. 7

In the form of housing l3 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the base I8 thereof is formed with an orifice l9 defined by the flanges 20. The binding post I5 passes through a cross bar 2|, orificed to receive the square shank 22 of the bolt !5, and making keying engagement with the cross bar. The cross bar 2| is formed with downwardly directed fingers 23, which extend into the elongated orifice I9 and thereby hold the terminal post [5 against rotation.

Sleeved over the post I provide a spider 24,, one

face whereof abuts the flanges 20. I provide lugs is provided the nut 26 which is threaded on the post 5, to hold the cross bar 2| and spider 24 clamped to the base of the housing, with the flanges 20 therebetween.

Sleeved in back ofthenut 26 is the usual washer 21 and the lead-wire ca 28, followed by the pressure nut 29, leaving the end 30 of the post extending beyond said pressure nut.

With a housing assembly of the character described, I provide the adapter 3|, which has its throat 32 formed to receive the base l8 of the housing. Adjacent the throat there is formed the shoulders 33, defining the orifice 34. The upper face of the shoulders 33 is formed with seats 35, arranged to receive the spider 24, as will more particularly be described hereafter.

With the construction as described, the base of the housing is inserted into the throat 32, to seat the same upon the shoulders 33, and extend the spider 24 into the seats 35. In this position, the terminal post 30 extends adjacent the ends 36 of the adapter. When so disposed, I extend an insulator cap 31, having a boss 38,into the orifice 34. The insulator cap 31 is provided with a threaded orifice 39, adapted to receive the end 30 of the post 5. Clockwise turning of the cap 31 in threaded engagement with the post will serve to fixedly seat the insulator l3, with its base upon the shoulders 33 of the adapter 3|.

Laterally disposed from the adapter, I provide a flange 40, having a standard 4|, orificed at 42 to receive a screw 43. The end 44 of the standard 4| extends slightly beyond the end 36 of the adapter, whereby when the cap 31 is in position, the end 44 and the outside edge of the cap 3'! will be substantially co-terminus. When the adapter is fixed in position to have the standard 4| engage the surface S of a wall W and is held in this position by a fastening element, such as the screw 43, the edge 44 of the standard 4| and the end of the adapter 38 are so proportioned that the terminal post is inaccessible so long as the adapter is held in position upon the base of the standard 4| This prevents the hazard of tampering except upon complete dismantlingof the insulator, to assure against attempting to make any adjustment or repair while the current is on.

The adapter 3| is also provided with a lateral cable orifice 45, formed in the lug 46, having a bearing surface 41. The installation as described permits two housings 3 and adapters 3| to be used for a series tube connection.

In this assembly, the orifice 45 serves to receive the cable 48 for connection to the, transformer.

Another adapter 3| a may be brought into engage ment with an adapter 3), bringing the bearing surfaces 41 into contact and directing a coupling 49 from the terminal post of one insulatorhousing to the other.

The installation just described therefore permits a series connection of tubes, or the connection of a single housing and adapter at the 0pposite ends of a tube circuit for connection directly to the transformer. The installation also makes available deep housings for interior lighting circuits, as the usual sign frame or board for throat engagement of the housing need not be used.

Furthermore, hazard is avoided in employing a ,deep insulator housing Whereinthe relationship of the diameter of the housing to its depth pre vents accessibility to the contact l1, thus preventing live parts from being reached by the fingers.

While I have described and illustrated an insulator housing in accordance with my patent aforementioned, in that this construction admirably interlocks itself with the adapter, it will be understood that deep insulator housings of other forms are readily adaptable to be mounted in the throat of the adapter I have described.

It will thus be observed that I have provided an adapter and insulator construction making available for interior and wall mounting, insulators heretofore confined to exterior uses.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In an insulator construction for interior illumination employing a gaseous discharge tube having electrodes at the ends thereof, each end of which being arranged to be positioned in an insulator housing having a tubular body, one end of which is open and the other end of which has a terminal post for connection to a cable, the combination therewith of an adapter for fiushwall mounting of said housing with the terminal post and adjacent the wall surface and to leave the open end of the housing accessible for insertion of the electrode ends of the tubin in a position spaced from the wall, said adapter having a standard through which a fastening element is, arranged to pass, one end of which standardengages the housing, the other end of which standard extends in contact with the wall to position the terminal post in such close proximity to the wall surface so that a cap placed in position to engage the terminal post is rendered incapable of removal while mounted upon the adapter to an extent necessary to make the terminal post inaccessible to manipulation.

2. In an insulator housing construction having a terminal post projecting from one end thereof and arranged to receive the electrode end of a discharge tube at the opposite end thereof, the combination therewith of an adapter to support the insulator housing in flush-wall mounting position, a body portion having an axial boring into which said post extends and comprising a seat at one end for receiving said housing and a cap engaging said post in covering position on the other end of said body portion, to make said post inaccessible and hold the same insulated in relation to said wall, a standard extended from one side of said body portion and projecting beyond the said second end for mounting said body portion, said standard having a wall contacting portion holding said housingwith the terminal post post and cap engaging the same in spaced position on the wall but in such close proximity to the wall to prevent removal of said cap from said post while said housing is in position mounting the tube in operative position.

3. In an insulator housing construction having a terminal post projecting from one end thereof and arranged to receive the electrode end of a discharge tube at the opposite end thereof, the combination therewith of an adapter to support the insulator housing in flush-wall mounting position, including a body portion having an axial boring through which said post extends and comprising a seat at one end which is cupped to receive said housing, and a cap at its other end engaging said post in covering position to make said postinaccessible and hold the same insulated in relation to said wall, a standard extended from the side wall of said body portion having a wall engaging portion projecting beyond the body portion holding said housing with the terminal post and cup engaging the same in spaced position on the wall, Within limits preventing removal of said cap from its engagement with the said post while said housing is held in position in said seat, and mounting the tube in operative position.

4. In an insulator housing in accordance with claim 2 wherein said terminal post extends from an orifice in said housing defined by outwardly directed flanges and wherein said seat conforms to said flanges to hold said housing non-rotatably nested within said adapter.

5. In an insulator housing construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said terminal post is extended from an orifice in said housing defined by outwardly directed flanges and said adapter has a tubular body to receive said housmg nested within said tubular body.

6. In an insulator housing construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said housing coma terminal post projecting from one end thereof and arranged to receive the electrode end of a discharge tube at the oposite end thereof, the combination therewith of an adapter to support the insulator housing in flush wall position having a tubular body portion through which said post extends and comprising a seat at one end for receiving said housing, a cap at its other end engaging said post, to hold said housing on said seat, a standard extending from one side of said body portion for mounting said adapter, a laterally disposed cable orifice to the other side of said body portion, a lateraly extendin bearing surface on the exterior of said body portion about the mouth of said orifice,- said standard and bearing surface cooperating with a similar adapter providing mounting means for said housv ings arranged in pairs, with the bearing surfaces on contact with each other, the standard having a wall contacting portion projecting beyond the second mentioned end of the tubular body portion spacing the cap in respect of the wall for a distance preventing removal of said cap while said housing mounts the tube in operative position.

SAMUEL C. MILLER. 

